Rose plant--Jacfun

ABSTRACT

A miniature rose variety having compact plant habit which blooms at two feet or less, petals with pink upper sides and deeper pink lower sides, large prickles, good mildew resistance, and mild fragrance.

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseplant of the miniature class which was originated by me by crossing thevariety Bridal Pink, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,851, with the variety FirePrincess, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,084.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose varietycombining the flower color and form of Bridal Pink with the miniaturegrowth habit of Fire Princess. This objective was substantially achievedalong with other desirable improvements as evidenced by the followingunique combination of characteristics which are outstanding in the newvariety and which distinguish it from its parents, as well as from allother varieties of which I am aware:

1. Plant habit is very compact, reaching approximately three feetmaximum, normally blooming at two feet or less.

2. Flower color is pink (RHS 55D) on upper side of petals, deeper pink(RHS 48D) on lower side.

3. Large, straight, brown prickles.

4. Good resistance to mildew.

5. Mild fragrance.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atWasco, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctionscome true to form and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor in terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where ordinary dictionary significance of color isindicated.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Bridal Pink, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,851.

Pollen parent.--Fire Princess, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,084.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrid.

Commercial.--Miniature.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown at Irvine, Calif. in July, 1982.

Blooming habit: Continuous.

Bud:

Size.--5/8" to 3/4" when petals start to unfurl.

Form.--Pointed ovoid.

Color.--When sepals first divide, Red Group 48A. When half blown; upperside of petals Red Group 49D, lower side of petals Red Group 48A.

Sepals.--Color: Outer surface Green 138A overlaid with Greyed Purple184A, and containing numerous stipitate glands. Three appendaged sepalslightly appendaged. Two unappendaged sepals hairy edged.

Receptacle.--Color: Green 138A, occasionally overlaid with Greyed Purple184A. Shape: Pear. Size: Large. Surface: Slightly hairy.

Peduncle.--Length: Short. Surface: Glandular. Color: Light green andbronzy. Strength: Stiff, erect.

Opening.--Spiral type.

Bloom:

Size.--Small. Average open size is 13/4" to 2".

Borne.--In clusters, flat.

Stems.--Short, strong.

Form.--When first open, flat. Permanence: Retains its form to the end;outer petal edges slightly curled.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions: 30-35.

Color.--Center of flower: Upper side of petals Red Group 55D; reverseside of petals Red Group 48D; base of petals near white. Generaltonality from a distance Pink (Red Group 55D).

Variegations.--None.

Discoloration.--General tonality at end of first day: No change. Thirdday: Much lighter than Red Group 55D.

Fragrance.--Slight, zinnia-like.

Petals:

Texture.--Leathery.

Shape.--Obovate.

Form.--Edges slightly quilled.

Arrangement.--Roughly imbricated. Petaloids in center, few.

Persistence.--Drop off cleanly.

Lastingness.--On the plant, long. As cut flower, long.

Reproductive parts:

Anthers.--Large. Color: Golden yellow. Arrangement: Regular aroundstyles.

Filaments.--Color: White.

Pollen.--Gold yellow.

Styles.--Color: Reddish.

Stigmas.--Color: White.

PLANT

Form: Bush.

Growth: Vigorous, branching, compact, growing to under 3'.

Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5-7.

Size.--Medium.

Quantity.--Abundant.

Color.--New foliage: Green 138A, overlaid heavily with Greyed Purple187C. Old foliage: Green 137A.

Leaflets:

Shape.--Elliptic.

Texture.--Upper side: Leathery.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serration.--Single, small.

Petiole.--Rachis: Color: Green. Underside: Large prickles.

Stipules.--Long, bearded.

Disease resistance.--Resistance to mildew, blackspot under normalgrowing conditions at Irvine, Calif.

Wood:

New wood.--Color: Light green. Bark: Smooth.

Old wood.--Color: Green. Bark: Smooth.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks from base, many. On laterals from stalk, many.

Form.--Long, straight.

Color when young.--Brown.

Position.--Irregular.

Small Prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks, few. On laterals, few.

Color.--Brown.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniatureclass, substantially as herein shown and described, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by the unique combination of its miniatureplant habit, pink flowers with darker reverse side, large prickles andmild fragrance.